One of the most powerful tools in Suno AI is something you might be overlooking: meta-tags. These simple hashtags can completely change the feel, sound, and emotional impact of your song.
When I started using Suno, I used to type vague prompts like “a sad pop song.” But then I discovered meta-tags — and wow, what a difference. With just a few carefully chosen tags, you can guide Suno into generating exactly the vibe you want, whether it's an energetic 2000s punk track or a haunting cinematic ballad.
🔍 What Are Meta-Tags?
Meta-tags are keywords you add at the end of your text prompt (not in the lyrics!) to control genre, style, emotion, instruments, vocal type, and even language.
They always start with a # and look like this:
#pop #female #melancholy #cinematic
Unlike section tags (like [Verse] or [Chorus]), meta-tags do not appear in the lyrics area — they are part of the prompt that tells Suno what kind of song you want.
✅ Where to Put Meta-Tags?
Meta-tags go in the prompt field, right after your descriptive sentence.
Example:
a slow-burning synthpop track about heartbreak and longing #synthpop #female #sad #80s
Don’t include them in the lyrics box — that’s reserved for your structured sections and verses.
🧠 Types of Meta-Tags and What They Do
Meta-tags can be grouped by what they affect:
🎵 Genre and Style Tags
- #rock
- #hiphop
- #synthpop
- #lofi
- #orchestral
- #punk, #emo, #folk
🧑 Vocal Tags
- #female
- #male
- #duet
- #robotic
- #child, #spokenword
🎭 Mood and Emotion Tags
- #sad, #happy, #romantic
- #dark, #dreamy, #uplifting
- #melancholy, #epic, #haunting
🌎 Language Tags
- #english, #spanish, #japanese, etc.
🔊 Effects and Arrangement Tags
- #cinematic
- #minimal
- #heavybass
- #acoustic, #vocalfx, #ambient
👉 You can find a huge list of these here:
Full Meta-Tag List
💡 How Many Tags Should I Use?
Suno works best when you keep your meta-tags focused. Try:
- 3–5 tags per prompt for clarity.
- Use only one tag per category (e.g., avoid
#rockand#poptogether). - Avoid conflicting tags (
#happy+#melancholymight confuse the AI).
🎯 Real Prompt Examples That Work
🖤 Emo Rock Ballad
a nostalgic 2000s-style emo rock song about missing someone you loved #emo #rock #male #melancholy
💫 Dreamy Pop
an atmospheric dreamy pop track with soft vocals and slow tempo #dreamy #pop #female #ambient
🎮 Retro Synthwave
a retro 80s-themed synthwave instrumental for a video game intro #synthwave #instrumental #80s #cinematic
🎻 Classical Crossover
a dramatic cinematic piece with orchestra and vocal elements #orchestral #female #cinematic #epic
🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ❌ Putting meta-tags inside lyrics
- ❌ Using too many conflicting tags
- ❌ Leaving the prompt too vague and relying only on tags
- ❌ Repeating the same tags every time — be creative!
🎬 Final Thoughts
Once you start using meta-tags with intention, you’ll feel like a real producer giving instructions to a team of musicians. They’re simple, but extremely powerful. Try experimenting with different combinations and you’ll be surprised how drastically your results change.
In the next post, I’ll show you how to combine meta-tags with section tags and prompts to create songs in any genre you can imagine — all with structure, emotion, and personality.
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